Today's News

Looks as if the new Orion Spacecraft vehicle, moving last month from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to the U.S. Naval Base in San Diego, was too wide for the Interstate 40 construction area at Exit 347 in Harriman.

Kingston’s Bill Wright spotted the spacecraft as it traveled through Roane County, and we appreciate him allowing us to share his photograph with our readers.

By CHARLES C. HAYNES
First Amendment Center
It was anything but a happy New Year for Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen who has spent the last year in an Iranian prison because of his faith.

In December 2012, the Idaho minister was visiting his native Iran to help start an orphanage when he was arrested for “undermining the Iranian government,” according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a legal group working on Abedini’s behalf.

Roane County’s Road Department used slag from a site the state once determined to be contaminated on several roadways.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation was contacted after some of the material had been removed.

It still lies in repaired areas of Thief Neck Drive near Rockwood.

“The slag was removed before TDEC was made aware of the situation,” said TDEC spokeswoman Shannon H. Ashford. She said the state has since received a request for a beneficial reuse permit of this material.

The Tellico Plains Lady Bears sent the Rockwood Lady Tigers to "board"-ing school, using a nearly two-to-one rebounding advantage along with Jasmine Harris scoring 21 points en route to a 53-35 win over the Lady Tigers on Friday evening.